The Highlander's Bride(40)

“You sacrifice for your son. You are a good father.”

He pointed at her with a hunk of dark bread. “You would do the same.”

“Sacrifice for my child?” she asked, and nodded. “Of course, without hesitation. I would protect my child with my life.”

“You took your life in your hands to protect Alexander.”

“I suppose, though the soldiers saw me as no threat—the idiots. I was simply a woman stuck there by a family who didn’t want her. What threat could I be to them?”

Cullen laughed. “If only they knew.”

“One felt my wrath when he attempted to corner me and have some fun.”

Cullen bolted upright from his lounging position on the blanket. “A soldier attacked you? Did you report him to the Abbess?”

“She would have blamed me for initiating it since she knew I searched for a husband.” She shook her head. “No, it was much better that I handled it myself, and quite easily at that.”

“Dare I ask what you did?”

“Showed him the error of his ways with the strategic placement of a dagger to his loins.”

Cullen shook his head with a laugh. “Embarrassment probably kept him silent.”

“He never said a word and never dared look my way again, nor did the other soldiers, which worked to my advantage when I abducted your son.”

“How did you get your hands on him?”

She had relived that night many times in her thoughts and dreams, the outcome not always the same, and she was grateful they were merely dreams.

“I pestered the sisters so much about seeing the babe that they reported me to the Abbess. She then informed me that the babe was ill and wasn’t expected to last long, though I had learned otherwise. I went into action, made the necessary arrangements with a local couple who were desperate for money and promised them even more if they made certain the babe reached the destination safe and sound.”

“How did you know the person you sent my son to would take him in?”

“She’s a good woman, and I knew she wouldn’t refuse my request. I set up a plan so that I would be chosen to see to the babe’s burial arrangements—” Her raised hand prevented his query. “I said as much in order to protect the babe from harm. It helped that only two sisters were permitted to tend Alaina and your son, and I found them crying often enough to know that they weren’t happy with the situation.”

“So not all the nuns were involved in the deceit?”

“Oh my, no. The Abbess couldn’t risk that many tongues keeping the secret.”

“Who was to kill my son?” he asked with a harsh anger.

“One of the two who tended him, though I could tell neither wanted the chore, and besides, one of the guards had to confirm the babe’s death.”

“How did you get a live babe past the guards?” he asked incredulously.

“That part presented a serious problem, for I feared what the guards would do to make certain the babe was dead.” She grinned and puffed her chest in pride. “Alexander was so very patient with me while I used crushed red berries to mark his skin to make it appear that he had the pox.”

“How did you keep him silent and still?”

Sara laughed. “That was easy. I screamed and waved his little red-pocked arm outside his blanket. ‘He’s dead, he’s dead,’ I kept screaming, while holding him tight to me and waving his little arm at the guard who stumbled backward.” Sara laughed some more. “It was hilarious. Alexander even wore a smile, though no one saw his cute face. The guard ordered me to be rid of him—bury him quick is what he told me. Even the sisters who had tended him kept their distance, worried for their own health.”

“And you simply walked off with my son?”

“Past the lot of the terrified idiots,” she boasted, “and had Alexander whisked away to safety in no time, and made certain that no one would dare dig up his grave until you came along.”

“Why didn’t the Abbess tell me of this, to prevent me from unearthing a contagious grave?” Cullen asked.

“She didn’t know. The one guard insisted that we tell no one for fear of being left behind, quarantined and secluded at the abbey, and the sisters agreed readily enough. They feared the same treatment.”

“So you all agreed to a lie?”

“It worked to my advantage.”

He shook his head and smiled. “You went to great lengths and took a dangerous chance to save my son. I truly appreciate it.”

Sara shrugged, grateful for his appreciation but uncomfortable with it. “Your son deserved to live. I simply did what was necessary.”